I think everyone college, high school, middle school all learn the peppered moth example for natural selection. I want to include it because it is a perfect example of natural selection that has been observed in a short period of time. The students I have been told are very weak in making graphs, so I want to include instruction on graphing using excel together with the class and have them dictate what the results mean.
Objectives
Students will demonstrate an understanding for the effect of variations in Natural Selection by writing a paragraph about how a certain variation can be advantageous.
Computer Game (Moths In their Environment) Moth Game
Instruction:
Opening
Has anyone ever played Man hunt? --> What color clothes is best to wear at night? --> Why are dark clothes better at night?
Does everyone remember what Darwin's Theory? ... Natural Selection
Well what is Natural Selection, What does it do? ... The best fit organisms survive and are able to pass their small often advantageous traits on to their offspring, This means that trait will become more common and eventually possibly uniform.
So are we still evolving?, how ... We will find out soon!
(5 minutes)
Here is a better view of what natural selection is.
Engagement
After the questions I will begin my side show on Natural Selection.
The Powerpoint discusses the following important points that students will be responsible for. (10 Minutes)
What a Scientific Theory is. A well tested hypothesis.
What finches told Darwin. 2 finches on 2 different islands one had long beak one has a thick beak, their specialized beaks were selected because they had an advantage for getting food. Therefore their genes were passed on and repeated resulting in different species.
Fitness in nature is reproduction potential.
Small genetic changes over time build up and make large differences.
Different traits among a species is also known as variations.
All of these will be backed up on their note sheet. They will have fill in spaces just like in the last lesson to encourage them to be following along with me.
After my Powerpoint I will say, "Get into groups of 4 and go to a computer (They can choose groups because it is just a visual game that is good for any level learner) At your computer you will go to this site Moth Game. I want everyone to read the part about peppered moths and pollution, call me over when you are done. Here I ask them a question or 2 to insure they read. Then after I confirm they read and after they create a hypothesis of what will happen to the (ex black moth population in a black environment.) then they may play the game Birds Eye View of Peppered Moths on the main page. I'll remind them that I want them to record on a piece of paper the percentages and environment they choose. (Ex. black environment and ended with 70% black moths.) Then I want them to each write what had happened and if their hypothesis was correct or not. (20-25 minutes)
Closing
After all groups have finished I will use their data and put it on an excel sheet where I can make a graph for the students to see. This class has a lot of trouble reading and making graphs, I want to give them help with that by showing them what kind of graph the experiment would form. we will discuss reults and the graph for the last 5 minutes of class until the bell rings.
Author: Daniel Ramalho
Unit: Evolution
Lesson: 2
Title: Natural Selection/ variations
Lesson Overview
I think everyone college, high school, middle school all learn the peppered moth example for natural selection. I want to include it because it is a perfect example of natural selection that has been observed in a short period of time. The students I have been told are very weak in making graphs, so I want to include instruction on graphing using excel together with the class and have them dictate what the results mean.Objectives
Materials
Website to moth game.Data and observation chart
Links to Resources
Power Point on Natural SelectionComputer Game (Moths In their Environment) Moth Game
Instruction:
Opening
(5 minutes)
Here is a better view of what natural selection is.
Engagement
After the questions I will begin my side show on Natural Selection.The Powerpoint discusses the following important points that students will be responsible for. (10 Minutes)
All of these will be backed up on their note sheet. They will have fill in spaces just like in the last lesson to encourage them to be following along with me.
After my Powerpoint I will say, "Get into groups of 4 and go to a computer (They can choose groups because it is just a visual game that is good for any level learner) At your computer you will go to this site Moth Game. I want everyone to read the part about peppered moths and pollution, call me over when you are done. Here I ask them a question or 2 to insure they read. Then after I confirm they read and after they create a hypothesis of what will happen to the (ex black moth population in a black environment.) then they may play the game Birds Eye View of Peppered Moths on the main page. I'll remind them that I want them to record on a piece of paper the percentages and environment they choose. (Ex. black environment and ended with 70% black moths.) Then I want them to each write what had happened and if their hypothesis was correct or not. (20-25 minutes)
Closing
After all groups have finished I will use their data and put it on an excel sheet where I can make a graph for the students to see. This class has a lot of trouble reading and making graphs, I want to give them help with that by showing them what kind of graph the experiment would form. we will discuss reults and the graph for the last 5 minutes of class until the bell rings.Assessment
Homework
Additional Notes